Why GWE for Drinking Water
Safe by design
risk management and water safety plans aligned with the Drinking Water Standards NZ.
Evidence you can trust
defensible reporting, robust modelling and compliance documentation that stand up to council and regulatory scrutiny.
End-to-end delivery
from source selection through design, consenting and commissioning.
Powered by LIFT
we Listen, Innovate, Follow Through and Team Up to deliver safe, compliant water systems.
What we do
Water Source Selection
A major consideration when designing a water supply scheme is the source of the water, that may be a stream or river, groundwater or rainwater collection. GWE investigate potential sources, based on yield, quality and resilience to environmental change, by assessing the following criteria:
Surface Water
Is the abstraction site close to the area to be supplied?
Will the flow always be sufficient, or will storage be needed?
Is there a downstream minimum flow requirement?
How variable is the quality, day-to-day or seasonally?
What is the worst raw water quality to be treated?
Groundwater
Is the borehead sanitary?
Will the quality of its water be difficult to treat?
Is the catchment or recharge area vulnerable to contamination?
Resource Consent
Many water treatment plants require a resource consent for the take of water from a surface water or groundwater resource. GWE provide advice on the consenting requirements and produce technical and planning reports, including an assessment of environmental effects (AEE) to support applications for new or the renewal of water take consents. The consent application will need to demonstrate:
New water supply infrastructure complies with the regional water plan
The assessment of effects follows the Fourth Schedule of the RMA
Where necessary appropriate consultation has occurred
Water Treatment Plants
GWE engineers are experienced in the design of a variety of treatment processes. The plant could be a full-scale water treatment process or just a simple disinfection system. Treatment processes often include:
Chemical coagulation and sedimentation
Sand or membrane filtration
Carbon or cartridge filtration
pH and hardness adjustment
Chlorine or UV disinfection
Iron and manganese removal
Transmission & Storage
We design and model pipelines, pump stations and reservoirs that move water securely and efficiently from source to community.
Treatment Process & Plant Design
Our team creates treatment solutions scaled to your community or business, designing plants that combine proven processes with modern technology.
Sedimentation and filtration systems
UV, chlorine or ozone disinfection
Membrane and advanced treatment processes
Distribution Systems
GWE engineers can model and design all the components of a distribution system serving a small community including trunk mains connecting treatment plants to service reservoirs, reticulation mains connecting reservoirs to consumers and providing a fire-fighting supply to provide protection for industrial, commercial and domestic properties.
Water Safety Plans
Our engineers are experienced in preparing a Water Safety Plan (WSP) for community water supply schemes. A WSP is a written document to assess and manage risks to the safety of drinking water associated with that drinking water supply. Risks are identified from the water supply catchment right through to water supplied to the public. GWE WSP’s identify barriers to contamination, potential events that could introduce hazards to the scheme, preventative measures and corrective actions and improvements that are necessary to protect public health.
Sanitary Surveys
GWE undertakes sanitary surveys of water supply schemes from catchment to treatment plant and distribution, to support effective risk management. These surveys, help identify risks and interpret water quality trends or sudden changes revealed by monitoring. Under the Water Services Act 2021, all suppliers must have a source water risk management plan (unless adopting an Acceptable Solution). GWE brings expertise to gather the right information and produce plans that are practical, relevant and effective for your scheme.
Risk Management & Compliance
We simplify compliance by preparing water safety plans, monitoring frameworks and reports that meet Drinking Water Standards NZ, keeping your supply safe.
Risk Management & Water Safety Plans
Managing drinking water is about more than pipes and plants, it’s about safeguarding public health and ensuring communities can trust their supply. At GWE, we prepare risk management and water safety plans that anticipate challenges, build operational resilience and simplify compliance. By combining technical expertise with practical reporting, we give councils and developers clarity, confidence and future-ready systems. This approach:
Protects communities, proactive risk planning safeguards public health, prevents contamination events and ensures resilient water systems.
Streamlines approvals, clear, defensible compliance documentation accelerates regulatory sign-off and avoids costly delays.
Reduces uncertainty, evidence-based planning provides clarity and confidence, protecting investment and supporting long-term operational success.
Why Choose GWE
Safe water, healthy communities
we help protect public health through reliable, evidence-based drinking water insight.
Clarity in complexity
our fact sheets translate technical information into clear, practical knowledge you can use.
Informed decision-making
empowering homeowners, professionals and communities to manage water quality with confidence.
Trusted expertise
How we work (LIFT)
L
Listen
we take time to understand community needs, existing assets and growth forecasts.
I
Innovate
we apply advanced modelling, treatment processes and cost-efficient network designs.
F
Follow Through
we stay with you from planning to commissioning, making sure the system is signed off and fully compliant.
T
Team Up
we work alongside councils, operators, contractors and stakeholders to ensure safe, sustainable delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Do I need a water safety plan?
Yes, most suppliers, councils and regulators require a Drinking Water Safety Plan to demonstrate compliance with the Drinking Water Standards.
Can GWE help with both new and existing schemes?
Yes, we design new systems and audit or upgrade existing ones to improve performance and compliance.
What treatment methods do you recommend?
We design bespoke solutions based on source water quality, volume and regulatory requirements, from simple UV systems to full advanced treatment plants.
Do you provide commissioning support?
Yes, we provide oversight, operator training and validation reporting to ensure systems operate safely from day one.